There's no such thing as a woke corporation. Corporate wokeness is an illusion created by PR departments to maximize market share.
Amazon bows to UAE pressure to restrict LGBT search results
51–60 of 299 posts
Re: Amazon bows to UAE pressure to restrict LGBT search results
#52I'm a bit confused by the fact that they're talking about UAE and then they suddenly switch to talking about non-Amazon related events in Saudi Arabia.
The headline could have been changed by the editor after the article was submitted.
Re: Amazon bows to UAE pressure to restrict LGBT search results
#53Speaking as someone who worked in the reputation management sector, this kind of behaviour has been around since the early 20th century. I think people often mistaken "region based marketing" for genuine political statements. If promoting pride yields a net positive increase in reputation and revenue in Western countries, one would be foolish not to jump on that bandwagon.
Right, but supporting a marginalized group for a month doesn't have much of an ethical downside. Repressing it year-round sure does. I think it just means ethics are not an overriding factor for them, just another pro/con item. Or the goodwill of their home customers and employees is a cost of doing business in more countries.
Re: Amazon bows to UAE pressure to restrict LGBT search results
#54Do people agree that corporations should respect the customs and values of the local people when operating their business there?
If yes, then Amazon is not "bowing", and it is The Guardian who is playing word games here. If not, then it would seem to imply that we are OK with western powers using their capital (instead of gunboats) to impose their ideology on other cultures in the world.
Now, one may argue that the customs and values of some countries are incompatible with those of the West and may even be considered "backward" to the point that western companies should completely withdraw from those markets because providing services to such markets equates to empowering those backward social values. That can be a fair assessment, but just remember not to blame them for "banning western companies" in the future.
Re: Amazon bows to UAE pressure to restrict LGBT search results
#55Earlier quoted context omitted.
Firms comply with the laws of the countries in which they operate. The Gulf states have evil and primitive laws on this and many other issues but everyone who operates there complies with them.
Then they ought not operate there.
Where should they operate?
Re: Amazon bows to UAE pressure to restrict LGBT search results
#56Earlier quoted context omitted.
You can call it a “defense” or not as you like. People and organizations have been putting money ahead of enlightened ideals as long as there’s been money or ideals. I’m not trying to let Amazon off the hook here per se, but a cursory reading of history shows that such calls are on average, basically everyone ever. We venerate King and Milk and Ghandi and others because they stand out . This is business as usual not…
Enlightened ideals were the suffragettes. Was the abolition of slavery. Don't you think calling this LGBT craze an enlightened ideal is a bit overselling it ?
From my reading of history, blacks, women, and gays have been treated like shit in appalling numbers as far as the books go back.
From my observation of the present: plenty of that still going around.
What makes suffrage or abolitionism any more or less worthy a case than the LGBT “craze”?
Seems to me all this prejudice is fucking unhappy shit.
Re: Amazon bows to UAE pressure to restrict LGBT search results
#57Is there any argument here in Amazon’s defense? Or is my initial disgust at Amazon truly the appropriate response. I cannot fathom being the person at Amazon who makes that call. Do they sleep well at night? Do they feel good about themselves?
> Is there any argument here in Amazon’s defense? Can you phrase the attack you imagine they need defense from in a way that doesn't assume your worldview is the universal position (or that tries to achieve a universal position) everyone must adhere to?
> Can you phrase the attack you imagine they need defense from in a way that doesn't assume your worldview is the universal position (or that tries to achieve a universal position) everyone must adhere to?
Why not apply your same maxim to the UAE and see where you get? Why do gay people in the UAE have to submit to what the UAE requires to be universal?
Re: Amazon bows to UAE pressure to restrict LGBT search results
#58Earlier quoted context omitted.
Enlightened ideals were the suffragettes. Was the abolition of slavery. Don't you think calling this LGBT craze an enlightened ideal is a bit overselling it ?
From my reading of history, blacks, women, and gays have been treated like shit in appalling numbers as far as the books go back. From my observation of the present: plenty of that still going around. What makes suffrage or abolitionism any more or less worthy a case than the LGBT “craze”? Seems to me all this prejudice is fucking unhappy shit.
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Re: Amazon bows to UAE pressure to restrict LGBT search results
#59Do people agree that corporations should respect the customs and values of the local people when operating their business there? If yes, then Amazon is not "bowing", and it is The Guardian who is playing word games here. If not, then it would seem to imply that we are OK with western powers using their capital (instead of gunboats) to impose their ideology on other cultures in the world. Now, one may argue that the c…
No, only the law. UAE customs and values on LGBTQ will collapse naturally by the outside pressure of superior Western culture.
Re: Amazon bows to UAE pressure to restrict LGBT search results
#60There's no such thing as a woke corporation. Corporate wokeness is an illusion created by PR departments to maximize market share.
I find this take ridiculous. This is the liberal equivalent of “no systemic racism”. What would you call it when a significant portion of your company believes in woke values and promotes some of these individuals into influential roles where they have power to pressure people? I’m sure their influence on product always rationally optimizes shareholder value and is not influenced by their beliefs.